Great Loop Cruise Journal

To all our friends old and new reading these web pages: We finished the Great Loop Cruise in August 2003, and we continue to cruise the Inland Rivers when we can. In the summer of 2011, we helped friends bring a boat from Detroit, MI to Little Rock, AR, cruising Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, the Illinois Waterway, and the Mississippi River. In the summer of 2007, we spent seven weeks exploring the Upper Mississippi River (from Cairo, IL to Minnesota). We've been on the Lower Mississippi (Cairo to New Orleans) six times: twice from mile 599 to New Orleans, four times from the mouth of the Ohio to the mouth of the White River (which is the entry to the Arkansas River System).

While the site contains commentary and photos for our Great Loop trip, we will keep adding to it as we cruise our well loved waters. A cruise log for the Mississippi River cruise is also here.

The Great Loop cruise legs are described in chronological order. Because we started our Loop much farther west than many Loopers do, and because our location meant, we had to cruise the Lower Mississippi, we covered many more miles than is typical. In addition, we made what was for us a side trip to the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers (most Loopers go south on the Tennessee and Tenn-Tom rather than take the Lower Mississippi). Having done both we'd take the Tennessee and Tenn-Tom every time.

Calypso Poet spent three years on the Tennessee River, and we're glad to answer questions aobut this magnificent river, as well as our home river, the Arkansas. It is pretty cool, too, although not as developed.